Onboard toilet cubicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to an onboard toilet compartment (1), in particular an onboard toilet compartment for aircraft, comprising: a front long side (2) and a rear long side (3); a front short side (4) and a rear short side (5), one end of each of which is connected to the front long side (2), and the other end of each of which is connected to the rear long side (3), the long sides (2, 3) and the short sides (4, 5) surround the interior (8) of the onboard toilet compartment (1), and the front long side and the rear long side (2, 3) are both larger than the front long side. The invention relates to an aircraft toilet compartment (1) having a toilet opening (10), an L-shaped door (11) for entering the aircraft toilet compartment (1), the L-shaped door (11) having a door branch (12) on the front long side (2) and a door branch (13) on the front short side (4), the toilet unit (1) being arranged adjacent to the rear long side (3), the door branch (12) on the front long side (2) being wider than the door branch (13) on the front short side (4).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an onboard toilet compartment, in particular to an onboard toilet compartment for an aircraft, comprising:

[0002] Front long side and back long side,

[0003] The front short side and the rear short side, each of which has one end connected to the front long side, and each of which has the other end connected to the rear long side,

[0004] The long sides and short sides surround the interior of the onboard toilet cubicle, with the front long sides and the rear long sides being wider than the front short sides and the rear short sides.

[0005] a toilet unit having a toilet opening, and

[0006] An L-shaped door for accessing an onboard toilet compartment, the L-shaped door having a door branch on a front long side and a door branch on a front short side. The invention also relates to an aircraft having an onboard toilet compartment. Background Art

[0007] Current onboard toilet cubicles, particularly those on aircraft, are only limitedly suitable for disabled persons. One reason for this is limited space. An onboard toilet cubicle typically has a greater extent in one direction than in a perpendicular direction. Various attempts have been made in the past to improve the suitability of onboard toilet cubicles for disabled persons.

[0008] For example, US2012 / 0261509A1 discloses an onboard toilet with a toilet door on the shorter side of the toilet compartment and the toilet bowl on the opposite shorter side. The washbasin countertop is located on one of the longer sides of the toilet compartment. This creates free space beneath the washbasin countertop for the wheelchair user's legs. However, a disadvantage is that the wheelchair user must turn a wide angle to sit on the toilet. Furthermore, the room for rotational movement is limited, and the toilet's layout prevents the wheelchair user's center of gravity from shifting close to the toilet seat. Finally, the toilet compartment must be large in longitudinal direction to accommodate a wheelchair. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The present invention aims to alleviate or overcome at least some of the shortcomings of the prior art. In particular, the present invention aims to provide an onboard toilet cubicle that is more accessible to people with limited mobility, particularly wheelchair users. This goal should be achieved particularly in aircraft toilet cubicles subject to limited space conditions. Preferably, the wheelchair user must turn their body to the minimum possible angle to sit on the toilet; in particular, the body's center of gravity should be shifted as little as possible. Preferably, space should be available for the wheelchair and the wheelchair user, particularly their knees, within the limited space conditions.

[0010] The above objects are achieved by an onboard toilet cubicle having the features of claim 1 and an aircraft having the features of claim 15. Preferred embodiments are indicated in the dependent claims.

[0011] According to the present invention, the toilet unit is arranged adjacent to the rear long side.The door branch on the front long side is wider than the door branch on the front short side.

[0012] A wheelchair user in a wheelchair takes up more space in the direction of travel than transversely to that direction. Placing the toilet unit on the rear long side means that, by orienting the wheelchair's longitudinal extent at an angle relative to the short sides of the toilet cubicle (approximately parallel to the long sides), a larger portion of the toilet's longitudinal extent can be advantageously used. A wheelchair user can thus roll past the toilet unit. Consequently, the toilet unit does not block a portion of the toilet cubicle's longitudinal extent, as would be the case if the toilet were located on the short sides. The arrangement of the door branches of the L-shaped door makes it possible to enter the toilet cubicle (almost) parallel to the front and / or rear long sides, even for small toilets, particularly those with small short sides, because the wheelchair can be guided through the area opened by the wider door branches on the front long sides. Furthermore, the design according to the present invention makes it easier to assist in guiding a wheelchair user into an onboard toilet cubicle, even for the first time.

[0013] Preferably, both the long side and the short side are formed by a wall, and the door can form part of the wall. In particular, the front long side is adjacent to the front short side, the front short side is adjacent to the rear long side, the rear long side is adjacent to the rear short side, and the rear short side is adjacent to the front long side. Preferably, the rear long side and the front long side, or a portion thereof, are parallel to each other in each case, and / or the rear short side and the front short side, or a portion thereof, are parallel to each other in each case. The front short side and the rear short side preferably have an angle of between 75° and 105°, in particular 90°, with the front long side and the rear long side. In particular, the connecting portion between the long side and the short side can be curved in a top view, or in a cross-section taken through a plane parallel to the floor surface. This is particularly true in aircraft, so that the onboard toilet compartment can follow the curved outer contour of the aircraft. The rear short side, the front short side, the rear long side, and / or the front long side can be curved in a vertical profile.

[0014] For the purposes of the present invention, the width of the long and short sides is calculated as the horizontal width at a height of 1 mm above the floor. Position and orientation information such as "horizontal," "vertical," "top," and "bottom" relates to the intended installation configuration of the toilet when the vehicle equipped with the toilet is oriented horizontally, particularly in an aircraft. If the connection between two adjacent sides is circular when viewed from above, the endpoints of the width are considered to be the intersection points of imaginary extensions of the straight lines of the corresponding sides. Preferably, the long and short sides form a rectangle in a cross-section parallel to the horizontal plane, with the long side forming the long side of the rectangle and the short side forming the short side of the rectangle. This combination of features thus makes the toilet particularly easy to use for wheelchair users in confined space conditions. The door branch on the front long side is the wider door branch, while the door branch on the front short side is the narrower door branch. The term "wider" relates to the horizontal extent along the corresponding long or short side at a height of 1 m above the floor. Distance and length information relate to the external dimensions (i.e., facing away from the toilet compartment, including the thickness of the walls).

[0015] The front long side and the rear long side are preferably at least 1.05 times, particularly preferably at least 1.1 times, and even more preferably at least 1.15 times or 1.2 times, the width of the front short side and the rear short side. The front long side and the rear long side are preferably at least 10 cm wider than the front short side and the rear short side, particularly preferably at least 25 cm wider, and even more preferably at least 40 cm wider. The wider door branch is preferably at least 1.1 times wider than the narrower door branch, particularly preferably at least 1.25 times, and even more preferably at least 1.4 times wider.

[0016] The onboard toilet cubicle is designed for use in a means of transport (e.g., an aircraft, a ship, a road vehicle, such as a motorhome, a bus, or a rail vehicle). Particularly preferably, the onboard toilet cubicle is an onboard toilet cubicle for an aircraft. Typically, onboard toilet cubicles of various sizes and shapes are provided on aircraft; current onboard toilet cubicles are preferably larger types, such as those provided on long-haul flights. The width of the front short side and the width of the rear short side are each preferably greater than 0.8 m, particularly preferably greater than 1.2 m, and even more preferably greater than 1.5 m. The width of the front long side and the width of the rear long side are each preferably greater than 1 m, particularly preferably greater than 1.4 m, and even more preferably greater than 1.7 m. On the other hand (particularly due to limited space conditions), the width of the front short side and the width of the rear short side are each preferably less than 2 m, particularly preferably less than 1.8 m, and even more preferably less than 1.7 m, and the width of the front long side and the width of the rear long side are each preferably less than 2.2 m, particularly preferably less than 2 m, and even more preferably less than 1.9 m.

[0017] The toilet unit preferably has a toilet seat area surrounding the toilet opening. The toilet seat area extends substantially in one plane. A folding toilet seat can also be provided that can be folded approximately 90°. A "toilet unit" particularly refers to a unit that is horizontally delimited by the edge of the (substantially horizontal) toilet seat area.

[0018] Preferably, the toilet seat axis forms an angle of less than 45°, preferably less than 30°, with the normal of the rear long side, and preferably the toilet seat axis extends essentially parallel to the normal of the rear long side. The toilet seat axis is formed by the axis of symmetry of the person using the toilet. Preferably, the toilet seat axis is defined by the toilet seat area and the edge of the toilet unit facing the front long side. Preferably, the toilet axis that bisects the toilet opening or the axis that bisects the (folded) toilet seat (in the folded state) forms an angle of less than 45°, preferably less than 30°, with the normal of the rear long side, and preferably extends essentially parallel to the normal of the rear long side. This makes it possible to reduce the necessary turning angle of the wheelchair user while gaining space.

[0019] In one advantageous embodiment, the door's hinge point is located on the front short side. This means that the shorter door branch has a hinge point around which the door can pivot. When the door is fully opened, so that the door branch located on the front short side (almost) rests on the outer side of the front short side in the closed position, the longer door branch can advantageously form a privacy screen along a corridor extending along the front short side. This can also increase the possible opening angle of the door, for example, when the rear short side is located on the wall of a vehicle, in particular an aircraft, which would prevent the door from fully opening if the hinge point were on the front long side.

[0020] Advantageously, the normal distance of the toilet unit and / or toilet opening from the front long side is greater than 1.5 times, preferably greater than 2 times, and particularly preferably greater than 3 times, the normal distance of the center point of the toilet opening from the rear long side. Advantageously, this refers to the distance from the edge of the element in question or from its center point (i.e., the center point of the area when viewed from above). This creates more free space for the wheelchair user.

[0021] Preferably, the normal distance of the toilet unit and / or the toilet opening from the front long side is greater than 25%, preferably greater than 35%, particularly preferably greater than 45% of the width of the rear short side and / or the front short side. Advantageously, this describes the distance from the edge of the element in question or from its center point (i.e. the center point of the area when viewed from above).

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the normal distance of the center point of the toilet opening from the front short side is greater than 15%, preferably greater than 20%, and particularly preferably greater than 30% of the width of the rear long side. This improves the accessibility of the toilet because, for example, space is created for a wheelchair user to turn onto the toilet.

[0023] Advantageously, the normal distance between the center point of the toilet opening and the rear short side is greater than 25%, preferably greater than 35%, and particularly preferably greater than 45% of the length of the rear long side. This improves accessibility to the toilet for a wheelchair user, who can move their center of gravity closer to the toilet when sitting in the wheelchair because there is room for their legs.

[0024] Preferably, when the toilet unit comprises a seat area in which the toilet opening is arranged, the inclined portion of the horizontal edge of the seat area facing the front long side forms an angle of between 1° and 60°, preferably between 5° and 45°, with the rear long side. This edge terminates the seat area in at least one area facing the front long side. This reduces the turning angle required by the wheelchair user. This also allows the wheelchair user to easily access elements arranged on the rear short side, such as toilet paper or a washbasin, when sitting on the seat area. The wheelchair user enters the onboard toilet compartment, in particular parallel to the inclined portion of the edge. Advantageously, the straight portion of the edge extends parallel to the normal of the rear long side and / or the rear short side.

[0025] In an advantageous embodiment, the inclined portion of the edge is located on a straight line intersecting the door branch on the front short side, preferably the half of the door branch closer to the rear long side, thereby enlarging the space accessible to the wheelchair user.

[0026] Advantageously, the starting point of the inclined portion of the seat edge facing the front short side is located at a normal distance from the front short side that is less than the longitudinal extent of the door branch on the front long side. This makes it easier for a wheelchair user to enter the onboard toilet compartment parallel to the inclined portion of the edge. Preferably, the straight portion of the edge adjoins the starting point in the other direction.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the onboard toilet compartment includes a washbasin unit with a washbasin, which is arranged adjacent to the rear short side. Advantageously, when viewed from above (i.e., measured across the upper area of ​​the wall opening), the center point of the inner wall area of ​​the washbasin recess is less than 45 cm, preferably less than 30 cm, and particularly preferably less than 15 cm from the rear short side. This increases the space available for wheelchair users.

[0028] The washbasin unit and / or washbasin are preferably arranged adjacent to the front long side. Advantageously, when viewed from above, the center point of the inner wall area of ​​the washbasin recess is less than 55 cm, preferably less than 40 cm, and particularly preferably less than 25 cm from the front long side. This creates space for the legs of a wheelchair user on the side of the washbasin unit facing the rear long side (e.g., between the toilet unit and the washbasin unit).

[0029] The toilet opening is preferably arranged at a horizontal distance of less than 1.5 m, preferably less than 1 m, particularly preferably less than 80 cm from the washbasin. Advantageously, this applies in each case to the center point of the element in question. As a result, a person sitting on the toilet can reach the washbasin.

[0030] In an advantageous embodiment, the normal distance of the washbasin from the rear long side is greater than 50%, preferably greater than 65%, of the length of the rear short side. This creates space for the legs of a wheelchair user on the side of the washbasin unit facing the rear long side (e.g. between the toilet unit and the washbasin unit).

[0031] Advantageously, a handle is provided for a person to grasp. For example, the handle can make it easier for a wheelchair user to maneuver from the wheelchair to the toilet seat. Advantageously, at least one horizontal handle and one vertical handle are positioned adjacent to the rear short side. Preferably, the vertical handle is positioned closer to the front long side, while the horizontal handle is positioned closer to the rear long side.

[0032] With reference to the aircraft according to the invention, it is advantageous if the onboard toilet cubicle is arranged such that the corridor adjacent the front short side leads to the passenger seating area. Thus, the longer door branch can also be used as a privacy screen in the open state. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] The present invention will now be described in more detail using a preferred embodiment of an onboard toilet cubicle as shown in the drawings. In detail, these drawings show:

[0034] Figure 1 A preferred embodiment of an onboard toilet is shown in oblique view;

[0035] Figure 2 Shown with Figure 1 interior fittings of an embodiment of the same onboard toilet cubicle;

[0036] Figure 3 Shown in top view with Figure 1 an embodiment of the same onboard toilet cubicle wherein the door is closed;

[0037] Figure 4 Shown in top view with Figure 1 an embodiment of the same onboard toilet stall wherein the door is open and the wheelchair user is partially within the onboard toilet stall;

[0038] Figure 5 Shown with Figure 4 The same view with a wheelchair user in an onboard toilet cubicle;

[0039] Figure 6 Shown with Figure 5 The same view with the wheelchair user partially moved towards the toilet unit;

[0040] Figure 7 Shown with Figure 5 The same view with a person sitting on the toilet unit and the wheelchair partially pushed out of the onboard toilet cubicle; and

[0041] Figure 8 Shown with Figure 5 The same view showing a person sitting in a wheelchair and sitting on a toilet unit in a superimposed manner. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] Figures 1 to 8 The same preferred embodiment of an onboard toilet cubicle 1 is shown, in particular an onboard toilet cubicle for an aircraft. Figure 1 This is shown in an oblique front view. Figure 2 The interior fittings of an onboard toilet cubicle 1 are shown. Figures 3 to 8 The onboard toilet cubicle 1 is shown in a top view, Figures 4 to 8 The entry of a wheelchair user 6 and the movement of the body of the wheelchair user 6 onto the toilet unit 7 are shown.

[0043] The onboard toilet cubicle 1 comprises a front long side 2, a rear long side 3, a front short side 4 and a rear short side 5. The front short side 4 and the rear short side 5 both start from one end of the front long side 3 and one end of the rear long side 4 and are adjacent to the front long side and the rear long side. The front long side 2, the rear long side 3, the front short side 4 and the rear short side 5 surround and define the interior 8 of the onboard toilet cubicle 1. When measured in terms of horizontal width at a height of 1 m above the floor 9 of the onboard toilet cubicle 1 (approximately corresponding to the knees of a person sitting in a wheelchair), the front long side 2 and the rear long side 3 are both wider than the front short side 4 and the rear short side 5. In this embodiment, the rear short side 5 is curved in its vertical profile (i.e. in a section parallel to the front long side 2) and thus adapts to the shape of the aircraft fuselage.

[0044] The onboard toilet compartment 1 comprises a toilet unit 7 having a toilet opening 10. The toilet unit 7 is arranged adjacent to the rear long side 3. An L-shaped door 11 is provided for entering the onboard toilet compartment 1. The L-shaped door 11 has (in the closed state; see Figure 3 ) A door branch 12 on the front long side 2 and a door branch 13 on the front short side 4. The door branch 12 on the front long side 2 is wider than the door branch 13 on the front short side 4 (particularly at a height of 1 m above the floor 9). Therefore, the door branch 12 on the front long side 2 is also referred to as the wider door branch 12, and the door branch 13 on the front short side 4 is also referred to as the narrower door branch 13. The hinge point 25 of the door 11, which defines the rotation axis of the door 11, is provided on the front short side 4.

[0045] The wheelchair user 6 can thus enter the onboard toilet cubicle 1 almost parallel to the rear long side 3 and can use the entire or most of the length of the onboard toilet cubicle 1, which extends in the direction of the (wider) long sides 2, 3. The wheelchair user 6 thus also does not bump into doorposts or doorframes.

[0046] Toilet seat axis 14 (see Figure 3 ) forms an angle of approximately 0° with the normal to the rear long side 3. In this case, the toilet seat axis 14 is the axis of symmetry that bisects the toilet opening 10 and is perpendicular to the tilt axis of the toilet seat 15. Therefore, the toilet seat axis 14 extends substantially parallel to the normal to the rear long side 3. The distance from the center point of the toilet opening 10 to the front short side 4 is slightly less than half the distance from the center point to the rear short side 5. Furthermore, the distance from the center point of the toilet opening 10 to the front long side 2 is slightly less than half the distance from the center point to the rear long side 3.

[0047] The toilet unit 7 further comprises a seat area 18. The seat area 18 will be formed by a surface surrounding the toilet opening 10, i.e. the toilet opening 10 is arranged in the seat area 18. In practice, a person using the toilet usually does not sit directly on the seat area 18 but rather on the (folded) toilet seat 15. The seat area 18 comprises a horizontal edge 16 facing the front long side 2. The horizontal edge 16 comprises an inclined portion 17 which forms an angle of approximately 25° with the rear long side 3. Furthermore, the inclined portion 17 of the edge 16 is located on a straight line intersecting half of the door branch 13 on the front short side 4 and closer to the rear long side 3 (in the closed state of the door 11). The front starting point 26 of the inclined portion 17 which delimits the inclined portion 17 towards the front short side 4 has a normal distance from the front short side 4 that is smaller than the longitudinal extent of the wider door branch 12. Thus, a wheelchair user 6 can enter parallel to the inclined portion 17 of the edge 16 and position their wheelchair directly adjacent to or in contact with the toilet unit 7 or the seat area 18 (see Figure 4 and Figure 5 ). Therefore, the wheelchair user 6 only needs to slightly shift their body center of gravity away from the wheelchair to sit on the seat area 18.

[0048] The onboard toilet cubicle 1 has a washbasin unit 19 with a washbasin 20. The washbasin unit 19 and the washbasin 20 are arranged adjacent to the rear short side 5. The washbasin unit 19 is directly adjacent to the rear short side 5. In addition, the washbasin unit 19 and the washbasin 20 are arranged adjacent to the front long side 2. Thus, there is space between the washbasin unit 19 and the toilet unit 7, for example, for the legs of the wheelchair user 6 (see Figure 5 Furthermore, the washbasin unit 19 can have a cross section that tapers towards the rear short side 5, i.e. decreases downwards, so that there is also some space below the washbasin unit 19 for the body parts of the wheelchair user 6. The toilet opening 10 and the washbasin 20 are arranged at a horizontal distance from each other such that a person sitting above the toilet opening 10 can wash their hands.

[0049] The toilet unit 7 has a cover 21 which is located at Figure 2 The toilet unit 7 is shown as a closed state in the figure and as an open state in other figures. The toilet unit 7 also has a plurality of handles 22, 23, 24. (The handles 22, 23, 24 are not shown in the figure.) Figure 2 ) from Figures 6 to 8 As can be seen in FIG, the wheelchair user 6 only needs to turn a small rotation angle to sit on the seat area 18. Figure 7 and Figure 8 As can be seen in FIG, the person 6 does not have to sit on the toilet unit 7 perpendicular to the rear long side 3, but can form an angle of, for example, 20° to the normal. Figure 8 In FIG, the position where the person 6 sits on the toilet unit 7 is shown by a dotted line.

[0050] For example, the cabinet is arranged on the rear short side 5. Since the rear short side 5 is curved, a portion of the rear short side 5 is Figures 3 to 8 The top view of the toilet cubicle 1 hides a portion of the interior fittings of the onboard toilet cubicle 1. The maximum extent of the rear short side 5 to the rear is represented by the rear line.

Claims

1. An onboard toilet cubicle (1), comprising: The front long side (2) and the rear long side (3), The front short side (4) and the rear short side (5), each of which has one end connected to the front long side (2) and the other end connected to the rear long side (3), The long sides (2, 3) and the short sides (4, 5) enclose the interior (8) of the onboard toilet compartment (1), the front long side (2) and the rear long side (3) being wider than the front short side (4) and the rear short side (5), a toilet unit (7) having a toilet opening (10), and an L-shaped door (11) for entering the onboard toilet compartment (1), the L-shaped door (11) comprising a door branch (12) on the front long side (2) and a door branch (13) on the front short side (4), It is characterized by: The toilet unit is arranged adjacent to the rear long side (3), and the door branch (12) on the front long side (2) is wider than the door branch (13) on the front short side (4), The toilet unit comprises a seat area (18) in which the toilet opening (10) is arranged, wherein the inclined portion (17) of the seat area (18) facing the horizontal edge (16) of the front long side (2) forms an angle between 1° and 60° with the rear long side (3).

2. The onboard toilet cubicle (1) according to claim 1, It is characterized by: The toilet seat axis (14) forms an angle of less than 45° with the normal to the rear long side (3).

3. The onboard toilet cubicle (1) according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized by: The hinge point (25) of the door (11) is arranged on the front short side (4).

4. The onboard toilet cubicle (1) according to claim 1, It is characterized by: The normal distance between the toilet opening (10) and the front long side (2) is greater than 1.5 times the normal distance between the center point of the toilet opening (10) and the rear long side (3).

5. The onboard toilet cubicle (1) according to claim 1, It is characterized by: The normal distance between the toilet opening (10) and the front long side (2) is greater than 25% of the width of the rear short side (5) and / or the front short side (4).

6. The onboard toilet cubicle (1) according to claim 1, It is characterized by: The normal distance between the center point of the toilet opening (10) and the front short side (4) is greater than 15% of the width of the rear long side (3).

7. The onboard toilet cubicle (1) according to claim 1, It is characterized by: The normal distance between the center point of the toilet opening (10) and the rear short side (5) is greater than 25% of the width of the rear long side (3).

8. The onboard toilet cubicle (1) according to claim 1, It is characterized by: The inclined portion (17) of the horizontal edge (16) of the seat area (18) facing the front long side (2) forms an angle of between 5° and 45° with the rear long side (3).

9. The onboard toilet cubicle (1) according to claim 8, It is characterized by: The inclined portion (17) of the edge (16) is located on a straight line intersecting the door branch (13) on the front short side (4).

10. The onboard toilet cubicle (1) according to claim 8 or 9, It is characterized by: The starting point (26) of the inclined portion (17) of the edge (16) of the seat area (18) facing the front short side (4) is at a normal distance from the front short side (4) that is smaller than the longitudinal extent of the door branch (12) on the front long side (2).

11. The onboard toilet cubicle (1) according to claim 1, It is characterized by: A washbasin unit (19) with a washbasin (20), wherein the washbasin unit (19) is arranged adjacent to the rear short side (5).

12. The onboard toilet cubicle (1) according to claim 11, It is characterized by: The washbasin (20) is arranged adjacent to the front long side (2).

13. An onboard toilet cubicle (1) according to claim 11 or 12, It is characterized by: The toilet opening (10) is arranged at a horizontal distance of less than 1.5 m from the washbasin (20).

14. The onboard toilet cubicle (1) according to claim 11 or 12, It is characterized by: The normal distance between the washbasin (20) and the rear long side (3) is greater than 50% of the length of the rear short side (5).

15. An aircraft, characterized in that An onboard toilet cubicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

16. The aircraft according to claim 15, It is characterized by: The onboard toilet cubicle (1) is arranged such that a corridor adjacent to the front short side (4) leads to the passenger seating area.

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